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DETAILS:

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15-
35 yrs
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Entrepreneurship
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East Anglia, East Midlands, Greater London, North East, North West, Northern Ireland, Scotland, South East, South West, Wales, West Midlands, Yorkshire
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Climate Change & Sustainability, Entrepreneurship

Youth Ecopreneur Programme (YECO)

Welcome to the Youth Ecopreneur Programme (YECO) , implemented by ITC’s Ye! Community and the G20 Global Land Initiative/UNCCD, where passionate young innovators drive the future of green business! What started as just an awards program has now grown into the Youth Ecopreneur Programme and in 2025, we received over 1500 applications from over 100 countries, showcasing incredible talent in Land Restoration and Green Business Solutions.

Join our vibrant community today, apply now, and be part of shaping a more sustainable future!

 

The YECO Programme is built for youth entrepreneurs under the age of 35 who are founders, co-founders, or CEOs.

We’re looking for passionate innovators with a clear understanding of the environmental challenges they tackle and scalable solutions ready for acceleration.

Applicant must be:

  • Must be under the age of 35 (by the application deadline)
  • Must be a Founder, Co-Founder or CEO.

Eligible businesses must be:

  • Legally registered and majority-run by a young person
  • The bootcamp is open globally, the accelerator is reserved for eligible countries – see the list here
  • Focused on Land Restoration or Green Business solutions

The programme consists of a:

  • Global Bootcamp to kickstart your journey with dynamic training and e-learning.
  • Global Accelerator to get personalized coaching, mentorship, and masterclasses to take your sustainable solutions to the next level.
  • Youth Ecopreneur Awards to showcase your solutions on a global stage.
  • Scale and Impact Phase to help you grow your business and expand your impact

 

Programme Benefits

  • Capacity-building for scaling your venture
  • Seed Funding (shared pool of $100,000 USD for the land-restoration cohort in total, equity free)
  • Access to a Global Network & Exposure
  • Mentorship & Coaching
  • Legal Guidance
  • IP expertise and coaching by WIPO
  • Preferential access to Pro-Bono Legal Services from Sidley Austin
  • Preferential access to the Google StartUp for Sustainable Development Programme
  • One-on-One coaching session with experts from Ernst & Young (EY)
  • All-Expenses-Paid Trip to International Conference for Award Finalists
  • Win the Youth Ecopreneur Award and get 10,000 USD prize money (1 Award per category

The deadline for applications is 

22 November 2026
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If you’re thinking about applying for the Unloc Changemaker Grant, go for it! Not only does it provide the financial support to bring your ideas to life, but the mentorship and guidance you receive are invaluable. It’s a chance to take your passion seriously, gain confidence, and make real progress toward your goals.

-Khamani Edwards
Previous Changemaker 
Grant winner

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